Building a Better Community
Fundraising for a Cause: Donated PR Services Support to Local Award-Winning Escondido Charter High School’s Robotics Team in Effort to Raise Funds to Get to the World Championships
Fundraising for a Cause: Donated PR Services Support to Local Award-Winning Escondido Charter High School’s Robotics Team in Effort to Raise Funds to Get to the World Championships
Objective: Community Support and Public Recognition
The ECHS robotics team – Daedalus – was created in 2008 as a part of an integrated robotics program at American Heritage Charter Schools which includes: four FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams in elementary school, one FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team in junior high, and the flagship FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team at the high school. In addition to running their own robotics teams, American Heritage Charter Robotics also host’s tournaments for FLL and FTC teams across San Diego County, bringing in more than 400 people for each of their yearly tournaments. The tournaments are run by the students and are considered among the best in the region.
The ECHS robotics team – Daedalus – was created in 2008 as a part of an integrated robotics program at American Heritage Charter Schools which includes: four FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams in elementary school, one FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team in junior high, and the flagship FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team at the high school. In addition to running their own robotics teams, American Heritage Charter Robotics also host’s tournaments for FLL and FTC teams across San Diego County, bringing in more than 400 people for each of their yearly tournaments. The tournaments are run by the students and are considered among the best in the region.
The implementation of ECHS’s robotics team was something to behold in the American Heritage School system, exposing a way for students to become involved in extra-curricular activities by new means. The excitement of sport mixed with the meticulousness of science and technology seemed to draw students in whether they were interested in this complex engineering or not. Becoming such a part of the culture, the whole concept has now been integrated into the curriculum, allowing students to receive credit for robotics as an elective course.
2017, a new year for team Daedalus, not only brought a new shop for students to work in, and that excitement surrounding curriculum credit, but the smallest regional robotics team pulled off a big win at the San Diego First® Robotics Regional Competition. Their win qualified Daedalus with an opportunity to head to the world championships in Houston, Texas.
Popularity within the school system and local tightly knit community was not enough to get these kids to Houston. To keep them on their journey, they needed donations to help pay for this trip—including transportation for the team as well as their robot, workstation, and supplies.
I had a great “in” on this project as one of my life-long friends and business partner’s freshman daughter was on the team. Hearing about team Daedalus sweeping the local, regional competition and their need to get to Houston, I couldn’t wait to offer my services to help their cause.
The ECHS director of robotics and team coach, David Tarr, had put together a fundraising website through YouCaring.com to get donation efforts started. I offered to update the page, add some of their great video slideshow footage of the team and the robot in action and draft some copy to help position the team story.
Once the fundraising page was updated, my big idea was to get these kids noticed and not just locally, but as regionally in Southern California as we could since they just won the regional robotics competition after all! Right away I got to work putting together a press release highlighting team Daedalus, their big win and their fundraising mission. With a great list of media contacts under my belt, I worked on disseminating the press release to local newspapers, radio stations and TV news broadcasts.
While press releases are still the best way to get your information out, a campaign just isn’t complete without some form of social media included. Journalists and consumers alike can find your press via search, link back to them and share them across their social media. AKA big win. Our strategy was to draft daily fundraising updates, share PR pickups and utilize all of the great pictures, videos, and content from the team’s regional win to help position their journey and drive donations.
The press release, media pitch, outreach, and YouCaring.com page all worked seamlessly together to get these kids to Houston!
Our extensive PR and media outreach resulted in securing spots in several local newspapers including the San Diego Union-Tribune. To top it off, team Daedalus was featured on the CW6 morning news. It was a huge opportunity for the kids, and a great way for Southern California to see these inspiring kids in action!
The YouCaring.com page received donations from local businesses and community members near and far. I’m proud to say that the outpouring of love continued right up until the end with the team raising more than their $27,000 goal.
760.459.9201
Susie@Q2Mark.com
Click Here Complimentary / Free 30 Minute Consultation Offer >>.
Let’s Talk About Your Business.
